HB 4 DE

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Became Law

Section 1 clarifies the definitions for animal exposed to rabies, control and observation, exotic animals, human exposed to rabies, owner, rabid animal, rabies vector species, strict quarantine, scratch, and suspect rabid animal. Section 2 clarifies the reporting requirements for a medical practitioner, hospital, veterinarian, or other person with knowledge of a person or animal suspected of being exposed to rabies. Section 3 requires veterinarians providing rabies vaccines to be licensed veterinarians and removes the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control from the list of entities authorized to inspect a cat or ferret owner’s certificate of a valid rabies vaccination. Section 4 provides that no licensed veterinarian or other person may vaccinate a native wild animal, a native wild animal hybrid, an exotic mammal or an exotic mammal hybrid with a rabies vaccine not intended for use in that animal except when specifically approved by the Department of Agriculture. Section 6 modifies the requirements for management of animals exposed to rabies including requirements for reports of suspected rabies exposure, requirements for release of quarantine, reporting of conditions of quarantine, disposition during quarantine, and surrender of dogs, cats, or ferrets for quarantine. Section 7 clarifies the responsibility and liability of an owner of an animal known or suspected to have exposed a human to rabies. Section 7 also establishes that law enforcement canines are not subject to being quarantined after biting a person if such bit occurred while the dog was being used for a law enforcement purpose. Section 10 removes the provision allowing the Director of Division of Public Health to require the reporting of all cases where humans were bitten by an animal known to transmit rabies. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Drafting Manual.

• William J. Carson Democratic · primary
• Bruce C. Ennis · primary

1. Mar 9, 2021 Introduced and Assigned to Agriculture Committee in House · lower
2. Mar 17, 2021 Reported Out of Committee (Agriculture) in House with 6 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits · lower
3. Mar 22, 2021 Amendment HA 1 to HB 4 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · lower
4. Mar 25, 2021 Vote type changed from Simple Majority (SM) to 3/5 Majority by amendment · lower
5. Mar 25, 2021 Amendment HA 1 to HB 4 - Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES · lower
6. Mar 25, 2021 Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES · lower
7. Mar 25, 2021 Assigned to Agriculture Committee in Senate · upper
8. Mar 30, 2021 Reported Out of Committee (Agriculture) in Senate with 5 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits · upper
9. Apr 29, 2021 Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES · upper
10. Jun 3, 2021 Signed by Governor · executive

The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.

• Bill Text · HTML
• Bill Text · PDF
• HA 1 to HB 4 · PDF
• HA 1 to HB 4 · HTML